Marian Hatcher (center), project manager for the Women’s Justice Program of the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, was the guest speaker for the Pro Bono Program and Clinic recognition luncheon. She was welcomed by (from left) Linda Anderson, Professor F. Willis Caruso, Katie Anderson and Kelly Burden-Lindstrom.

The volunteer efforts of more than 100 students who participated in The John Marshall Law School Pro Bono Program and Clinic over the past year were celebrated at an April 28, 2014, luncheon.

Guest speaker Marian Hatcher, project manager for the Women’s Justice Program of the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, applauded the work of alumnus John Antia (J.D. ’13) and students -- Magdalena Wilk, Samantha Sims, Italia Lima and Amanda Bolhuis -- who drafted the “National Day of John’s Arrest Partners and Their Solicitation Laws” report for the Sheriff’s Office. Hatcher said the work of these John Marshall students was invaluable. Their legal findings have been published and are used as the basis for the county’s initiative in establishing sting operations.

Hatcher told the students she was thrilled by the work students did on the project, and that she is “really proud to be partnering with this great institution, John Marshall.” During one’s career “you can grow and learn and be part of some really important work,” Hatcher said, while stressing that it is important to represent all peoples because “it takes people helping each other.”

People v. Bailey, a criminal appeal in the 1st District that had students Michael DeSantis, Robert Marcus, Greg Ruggie and Lauren Schroder look at the issues of appropriate sanctions for discovery violations in misdemeanor cases.

People of the State of Illinois v. Dunn, is an innocence case with Professor Hugh Mundy as supervising attorney working with alumna Sheida Ahmadzadeh (J.D. ’13) and students Jillian Berner, Leighten Hendricks and Megan Tribe.

U.S. Bank National v. Dunn is a federal foreclosure case with attorney Linda Anderson supervising students Mark Bernachea, Chris Cardona and Charles Portman.

Jones v. Burge had students Rebecca Kaiser and Jordan Yurchich working with attorney Victor P. Henderson and Professors Linda Crane and Kim Chanbonpin and Adjunct Professor Sheila Murphy and with Professor Steven Schwinn and the International Human Rights Clinic representing those who are police torture victims.